The guild's doors slammed open and everyone turned their heads to find out who was their unexpected guest was. Gray's brows creased as he pushed a spoonful of his food in his mouth. He rolled his eyes in annoyance as he quietly chewed his food.
"Who on earth would barge into the guild this early?" Gray thought crossly before turning his head to see the guests. Gray's eyes widened and his chewing stopped when he caught a glimpse of who they are. His spoon dropped on his plate as he waited for his discovery to fully sink into his mind. It was no other than Lamia Scale's representatives, Lyon Vastia and Chelia Blendy.
"All of you looked shocked, weren't you expecting us?" Lyon Vastia commented as his eyes lingered at the surprised faces of the members of Fairy Tail. He wore his usual impassive expression, but when his eyes landed on Gray who froze on his seat, Lyon's lips curled into a mocking grin.
This time, it was Gray's turn to throw a cold glare at his rival. Gray can feel his blood boil just at the sight of Lyon standing on the door. Why was he here to begin with?
"Perhaps, one of you weren't really that welcoming given the way he stares at me" Lyon said, his eyes staring straight at Gray.
"Well, you are not welcome here to begin with! What the hell are you doing here?!" Gray snapped back hotly, standing up from his chair. Lyon raised his brow at Gray.
"You are just as dumb as ever, Gray. Weren't you told that our guilds will work together to solve a mystery involving the sudden disappearances of small guilds and people?" Lyon said as if he was stating the obvious. Gray mentally slapped himself. How can he forget that? Maybe his mind was just clouded by his irritation to Lyon that he actually forgot the real reason why Lamia Scale mages are here. Right, they are going to a mission Gray isn't involved in.
"Oh! Lyon-sama is so cool when he acts so tough!" Chelia said dreamily as if there were hearts floating around her. Lyon didn't even give her a sideways glance, but that didn't stop Chelia from imagining that Lyon was literally sparkling because of his unmatched beauty.
"What did you just say?!" Gray yelled angrily, while Lyon kept his cool.
"Stop it, Gray. They are here for a mission, not for a fight" Erza went in, making Gray reluctantly sit back at his chair. But he was still glaring daggers at the fellow ice mage.
"Now that we are all here, we'd better get going" Erza started and Lyon nodded. Erza looked back at her comrades: Natsu, Happy, Lucy, Mirajane, Gajeel and Laxus.
"We have been idling for quite some time now. I can't believe I wasted a moment of my time bickering with Gray" Lyon stated as he threw a cold glance at Gray who glared back at him. Gray put his hand in his pocket and his fingers brushed at the card hidden in his pocket. He smiled inwardly.
"I'm all fired up! Let's beat up those whoever started this!" Natsu yelled enthusiastically as he ran through the doors, pulling Lucy with him and Happy who was trailing the both of them.
"Why are you doing this to me, Natsu?!" Lucy wailed as she got dragged by the fire mage. The others followed them to the door as well. The guild cheered for all of them. Lyon was the last one to go through the door. He paused before turning back to Gray.
"Are you not coming with us? Your whole team is going yet you are staying here" he asked the ice mage
"The Master said it would be better if I stay here. Whatever the reason is, it's none of your business. Now get out" Gray said hotly and Lyon smirked.
"Makarov did the right choice. You are incapable of saving these lost people after all" then Lyon left. His words stung Gray. For what reason did Gray feel so degraded? Lyon's words seemed to stab him to his heart. Did he just say that he is incapable of saving people? That he is incapable of saving Juvia? Gray gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
He will prove Lyon wrong. He will prove to him that he is capable of protecting someone. And he will prove to everyone that Juvia is real. He will prove to the Master that he is not imagining things. He will bring back Juvia, at whatever cost.
"Are you alright, Gray?" Wendy approached her friend. Gray turned at the young mage.
"Wendy, can I talk to you?"
"Certainly"
"Do you know where they are heading right now? I mean, are they going by the means of trains, ships?"
"Hmm, Lucy told me that they are going to head to the train station that will lead exactly to their destination. Why?" Wendy stared at Gray, confusion written on her face.
"Nothing"
"You are not telling me something, Gray. I'm worried" Wendy said worriedly and Gray gave her an assuring smile.
"Hey Wendy, do you believe in what I have just said before?"
"What is that? You mean about this Juvia person?" Wendy looked at Gray and Gray looked down on his feet.
"Yeah" Wendy thought for a while, as if she was uncertain on what to say to Gray.
"Well, something tells me that you speak the truth… I mean, you would never make up such a poor lie, right?"
"Gee, at least that's the second person who somehow believes in me" Gray smiled and then Wendy had a look of realization.
"Are you planning something that I do not know, Gray?" Wendy asked the ice mage and Gray suddenly felt nervous. He was speechless as to what he must say. He felt bad for lying to a child such as Wendy.
"Umm…"
"I know you will be doing it because it's for the best. Just make sure you won't mess up, Gray. I'm counting on you. I hope that Erza won't find you" Wendy smiled at Gray before leaving. Gray stared at her, not believing that Wendy actually figured him out. Was he that obvious?
Before leaving, Gray took out the butterfly brooch that has been with him for a while now. Gray pinned it to his shirt before he walked through the doors.
With that, Gray excused himself from the guild and went after the group. When he hid in an alleyway, he fished out Cana's card and studied it.
"How do I unleash it again?" then he recalled Cana saying that he must say the name of the card and throw it onto the ground to activate it.
"Card of Invisibility!" Gray threw card on the floor and it emitted a white light that covered Gray. The moment the light was gone, Gray felt nothing. But when he looked at his hands, he can see nothing but thin air. He grinned at this.
"Thank you, Cana" he murmured as he sneak his way up to the train station where the train Erza and the others are now boarding.
xXxXxXx
Juvia was sitting on her chair as she cut off the thread from the teru teru bozu she just finished making. The young Juvia smiled at her work, admiring every piece of detail of the doll. She frowned when it continued to rain outside, despite smiling at her work. She made the doll a bit special this time. She put blue yarn as that served as the hair of the doll, she used a black marker to draw stubble on the doll's face, making the handmade doll look like a man who is a bit older. The white body of the doll was changed into a dark blue color with yellow lines, making it look like it wears a coat.
This time, Juvia picked up a smaller doll. This one also had blue yarn a hair though it had an almost failed attempt of curling the blue hair because of the glue that is visible on it. The body was just a plain blue cloth that looked like dress with yellow butterflies as a print. The small doll looked exactly like Juvia. No, it was actually meant to represent her.
She held the two dolls close to her chest and hugged it tightly, especially the larger doll. Juvia curled herself in the corner of the room, trying to stop the tears brimming in her eyes. She stared at her window, then to the rain clouds.
"I miss you, papa. When will you come back for me?" the young Juvia sobbed
With that, Juvia's eyes fluttered open. She slowly sat up, she pulled the covers away from her lap and looked down upon herself. She was wearing a simple white dress and her wavy blue hair cascades down to her shoulders. She looked upon her surroundings. It reminded her of her room back when she was, back when she was but a child. How did she end up here?
On her nightstand, she saw the same dolls in her dream lying on the table. Juvia slowly picked it up. It was a bit tattered and weathered. Some of the ink was fading; the white portions were dusty and gray. Juvia placed the dolls in her hands. This time, she heard the rain pour outside. A teardrop fell on the head of the larger doll. Juvia cannot hold back her tears.
How can she forget? After all these years, she hoped. Yet, she grew to forget about him. When everything bode well for her, why did that memory return? Why does she feel like it was the only thing she can ever remember?
Juvia felt different. Tears fell from her eyes, but her face showed no anguish. She was dying of sorrow inside but her expression remained blank as it was. Why can't she remember who she was? She only knows her name, and the time she made these dolls. She knew she was the smaller one, but the larger doll, the doll that had the deep frown and looked like an older man, does not seem to be familiar to her.
"Where… where am I?"
